Timer



NOV. 17, 1959 GODDARD 2,913,544

. TIMER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1- Filed Dec. 23, 1957 INVENTOR LOUIS H. GODDARD74 4 HIS ATTORNEY Nov. 17, 1959 L. H. GODDARD TIMER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Dec. 25, 1957 INVENTOR. (CU/S H. GOOG/PED BY wfw 1959 L. GODDARD2,913,544

TIMER Filed Dec. 23, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. ZOU/S H. 6000550United States Patent TIMER Louis H. Goddard, Dayton, Ohio, assignor toGlobe Industries, Inc., Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio ApplicationDecember 23, '1957,Serial No. 104,511

' 7 Claims. (Cl. 2041-35 This invention relates to an improvement in anadjustable delay timer. Such timers are self-resetting, so that whencurrent is discontinued or fails, the timer will automatically be re-setto its initial position.

It is one object of the invention to provide a timer with means forinstantaneously re-setting it when current is discontinued. It isanother object of the invention to provide a timer in which the delayinterval can be adjusted in a continuous manner over a pre-determinedrange. A still further object of the invention is to provide a timer inwhich the timing cycle is repeatable so that the precise timing intervalwill be attained for each cycle of operation.

These and further objects and advantages of the invention will becomemore readily apparent upon a reading of the description followinghereinafter, and upon an examination of the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an exploded view in perspective showing the preferredembodiment of the timer of the invention,

Figure 2 is an exploded view similar to Figure 1 but of a modificationof the timer,

Figure 3 is a plan view of a portion of the modification of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a partial cross-sectional view through the assembled timerof the modification of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a partial exploded view of a portion of the timer of Figurel,

, Figure 6 is a plan v'ew of a portion of the adjustable interval meansof the preferred embodiment of the invention,

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 77 of Figure 1,

Figure 8 is a view taken along line 8--8 of Figure 1,

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 of Figure 8, and

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the carrier plate of the modificationof Figure 2.

The timer of the invention comprises an electric motor Y running atsteady speed and arranged for delivering to a driven device, such as anelectric switch or switches, a cyclic or periodic repetition of briefactuations, after the lapse of a predetermined time interval. The timerof the invention employs a synchronous motorwhich Thus, when the clutchor brake is actuated by the employment of a gearing arrangement whichposi- :tions the mechanical elements, which in turn determines thelength of actuation interval. The timer also employs a spring to returnthe elements to normal or unactuated position when the clutch or brakeis de-activated.

Devices of the type with which this invention is con- 2,913,544 PatentedNov. 17, 1959 cerned have been known previously, however, in one suchdevice the ring gear was locked by a pawl or detent element whichengaged a series of teeth on the external surface of the ring gear, andwas actuated by a solenoid. In such a device, after the switch wasactuated, and when the return spring operated to reposition the camelement, the ring gear was moved, so that if the timing cycle were to bereinstituted, the teeth on the ring gear may be in such a position thatthe solenoid actuated pawl would strike against the crown of a tooth,thus delaying the start of the timing cycle, until the pawl engaged theflank of the tooth and preventing repeatability and accuracy of thetiming cycle. In addition, in this old device, the length of the timingcycle could not be continuously adjusted over a predetermined range, butonly selected fractions of a predetermined range could be used.

As shown in Figure 1, the timer includes a synchronous motor 2 theoutput of which is modified by a gear reduction 3. At the end of theoutput shaft 102 of the motorgear reducer is a sun gear 104, which maybe a separate gear mounted on the output shaft, or else a gear hobbed onthis shaft.

As shown more clearly in Figures 5 and 7, the output shaft 102 from thegear box 3 has a gear 304 on its inner end, which is the last gear inthe gear box. The output shaft 102 passes through the cover plate 300for the gear box. This cover plate 300 is formed With an outwardlyextending hub 302, which serves as a bushing for the shaft 102. The hub302 is slotted at its outer extremity, for a purpose as will beexplained more fully hereinafter. The gear 104 serves as the sun gearfor a planetary system, and meshes with three planetary gears 106, 108and 110, mounted upon studs affixed to a carrier plate 112. On theunderside of the carrier plate 112 is a projecting pin 192 which servesas an anchor for one end of the return spring 138, i.e. the loop 139 ofthe spring 138 is wrapped around the pin 192. The inner end of thespring 138 has a bent-over portion 140 which sits within the slot 306 inthe hub 302. The relative positions of the spring, carrier plate andplanet gears is indicated clearly in Figure 7.

In the embodiment of Figure l, the planet carrier plate 112 serves as atriggering or firing means for a switch or switches 36 and 38. Theswitches are fired on the release of the switch actuator button sincethe release cycle is more accurate than the depress cycle. The carrierplate 112 has a pin projecting from its peripheral surface, and this pin190 cooperates with an actuator plate 222 to release the actuatorbuttons 37 on the switches 36 and 38 as clearly shown in Figure 9. Theactuator plate 222 is slightly bent as shown in Figure 9 and is formedwith a pair of opposing flanges 224 and 224a (see Figure 8). A pin 225holds the plate 222 in a fixed position to the flange 4 of the timer andalso holds a mounting plate 35 to retain the switches 36 and 38 inposition. Additional screws or fastening means 39 and 41 also serve toretain the switches 36 and 38 in position upon the plate 4. The pin 225serves as a pivot for the plate 222. The inner end of the plate 222carries a pair of adjustable actuator buttons 227 and 227a which areadjusted to bear upon the actuator buttons 37 of the switches tonormally retain them in depressed position.

Actuator plate 222 is urged into the position shown in Figure 9' by thespring 228. When the bent portion of the actuator plate 222 is contactedby the pin 190 mounted upon the disc 112, then the plate 222 will pivotabout its axis 225 and release the actuator buttons 37.

The contacting means 227 and 227a each comprise a screw and lock nut sothat they are adjustable towards and away from the contact buttons 37 onthe switches.

In the modification of Figure 1 the micro-switches are in fixed positionand are not adjustable, so that the end of the time cycle is fixed.However, the beginning of the time cycle is adjustable. In order toadjust the beginning of the cycle in a very accurate manner, there isprovided the Worm 210 and worm wheel 212. By using a worm geararrangement there is obtained a very large multiplication factor, whichmeans that the beginning of the time cycle can be very accuratelylocated. Pin 192 is mounted on the planet carrier plate 112 and dependstherefrom. This pin locates the starting point for the timing cycle. Thepin 192 travels within the sector race 193 in the gear 212. Actually,the pin 192, at the beginning of the timing cycle, rests against theedge 193a of the race 193. By adjusting the worm 210, the relativeposition of the surface 193a is changed. An angle bracket 194 is fixedlymounted on the plate 4 by a pair of screws 196 and-1 98. The worm 210fits through the angle bracket 194 and rotates within bores 204 and 206in each of the legs of the bracket 194. One outer end of the shaft whichbears the worm 210 has a slot 214 thereon so that the worm can beadjusted. A lock nut 208 is also mounted on the shaft of the worm'210 sothat once the worm is adjusted into the desired position it can belocked therein by rotation of the nut 208 against the angle bracket 194.The plate 212 is mounted on the hub 302 and is rotatable thereon. Stoppin 216 is fixedly mounted on the plate 4 and the sector gear 212 ispositioned so that the stop pin 2'16 lies within the sector race 193.The stop pin 216 provides an end point to the rotation of the sectorgear when the surface '193b bears against the pin 216, and in thismanner limits the length of the timing cycle; however, if desired, thisinterval can be increased by increasing the length of race 193 or makingit an arcuate slot. The pin 216 stops the rotation of the planet carrier112 by means of pin 192 striking against the pin 216. The longest timinginterval will occur when the sector gear 212 is positioned so that thesurface 193b bears against pin 216 while the pin 192 at the beginning ofthe timing cycle rests against thesurface 193a. In order toshorten thetiming cycle the sector gear is rotated so that the pin 192 is carried,by the repositioning of the surface 193a to any desired new startingposition for the timing cycle, "that is, the difference in distancebetween'the surface 193a and the pin 216 is shortened. By vibratingsector gear 212 the 'Worm 210 is not moved since the jam nut 208 locksit in position. This aids greatly in increasing the accuracy of theoperation regardless of the degree of vibration to which the unit issubjected.

In the modification of Figure 2, a motor 2 and gear box 3 are mounted ona plate 4 with the output shaft of the gear box extending through theplate 4. The adjustment of the time delay is accomplished by a means 6which comprises a shaft 8 having a knob mounted on the outer end thereof(see also Figure 4). The shaft 8 is spring loaded by spring 9 so thatany end play is eliminated; the spring 9 bearing on one side against theknob 10 and on the other end against the bushing 7 in the housing 1. Theother end of the'shaft 8 extends through a bushing similar to 7 and agear 121s mounted on'the inner end of the shaft 8. Thisgear 12 mesheswith a sector gear 14, whichin turn is mounted upon a plate 16 byfastening means 18 and'20. The sector plate '16 carries theactuatorplate 22, which is pivotally mounted on a post 24 fixed to thesector plate 16. The plate 22 is-provided with an actuator detent lug 26which cooperates with the planet carrier plate 112 in a manner to beshortly described. The position of this lug 26 can be adjustedbyrotating shaft8 which then positions sector plate 16 tothe extent ofthe-teeth on the sector gear 14. Also, the switches 30, which aremounted upon sector plate 16 by two screws 32 and 34 are positionedtogether with the actuator lug 26. The switches 30 comprise a bank ofthree switches 36, 38 and 40 as 4 shown in Figure 4. As shown 'in Figure3, the actuator buttons 184 of the switches 30 are released when thedetent lug 26 drops into the slot 180 in the carrier plate 112.

The entire timer unit is mounted within a housing which consists of acylindrical member 1, which is mounted to a base member 28, and affixedto this base plate by a series of mounting screws 50. The base plate 28is formed with an upstanding hub portion 29 which forms a pilot formounting the cylinder 1. Also, the mounting studs '42, 44 and 46 serveto position the plate 4 with respect to hub 29. The studs *42, 44 and 46mate with corresponding slots 43, 45 and 47 in the plate 4,respectively, to retain the assembly in position; and appropriatefasteners are used (see Figure 4) to fixedly mount plate 4 to the studs42, etc.

Mounted upon the hub 29 is a clutch or brake 52. The clutch comprises acoil 54 which is embedded within a housing 72; The housing 72 is alsoprovided with an opening 74 into which an armature 56 may be piloted.The armature 56 is in the shape of a 'disc with a shaft mountedcentrally thereof. In one method of fabrication, the armature 56 mayconsist of a disc mounted to a T-section shaft. The central portion ofthe armature 56 consists of the shaft 60 which pilots the disc 58 intothe internal gear 64 of the planetary gearing 100. The disc 58 is offerro-magnetic material and the T-shaped shaft '60 may be of brass orother non-ferro-magnetic material. The top or T portion of the shaft 60is indicated at 62 in Figure 4. The upper portion 62 of the T-shapedshaft 60 is formed with a piloting hub 66 Which locates the externalgear 64 upon the armature of the clutch. The armature 56 is so mountedin relation to the stationary part of the clutch that there are formedtwo air gaps 68 and 70. Air gap 70 is larger than air gap 68 in orderthat the torque or the braking torque 'occur at the maximum radius (moretorque will then be generated to lock the external gear 64 in positionand prevent it from rotating when power is applied to coil 54). Theengagement "of the disc 58 with the housing 72 is always on the outeredge with the arrangement of air gaps as shown in Figure 4. When currentflows in coil 54 the plate "68 is attracted to the base 72 and heldthere until the power is turned 011. Of course, the base 72 is also madeof ferro-magnetic material and this serves as the return path forthe'flux. The bore 74 in the member 72 receives the shaft 60 and forms apilot therefor- The ball 88 provides a friction-free pivot and bearsagainst the surface of the hub 29. The hub 29 is slightly beveled as at83 at its outermost surface. The clutch housing 72 is affixed 'to thehub 29 by fasteners (not shown) extending through flange 80. Centrallyof the element 72 and extending from the bore 74 is a cavity 82. 'Theball 88 is held within the cavity 82 by .a spring follower assemblyconsisting of a spring 84 seated within a cavity of the shaft 60, and aspring follower 86 whichhas an inwardly cone shaped lower portion tobear against the ball-88 in order to captivate the ball but still permitit to roll. The loading upon the spring 84 may be controlled by anappropriate shim assembly 76. Also, the dimension of the air gaps 68 and70 are controlled'by the shim mounting 76.

As indicated previously, the hub 66 serves as a pilot for the internal.gear 64 of a planetary gear system, This gear 64 is fastened to-theplunger 56 by a series of'fasteners 90, 92, 94 and 96. The heads ofthese fasteners are embedded in plate 58 as clearly shown in Figure-4.Thus, the internal gear 64, the shaft 60 and the armature 56 areassembled together as an unitary member.

. ;T-'he plainetary-gear train consists of a sun gear 104 which ishobbed on the end of shaft 102 (which is the output shaft of thesgearreducer 3); a series of planetary gears 106, 108 and 110 (which aremounted upon a formed on the carrier plate 112, and the planet gears aremounted on these studs and held in spaced relationship from the surfaceof plate 112 by a spacer 116. The planetary gear is freely rotatableupon this hub 114 and is retained'thereon by a screw 118, which bearsagainst a washer or spacer 120. The ring gear 64 has teeth 122 only onthe internal surface thereof.

Plate 126 is the flange of the gear box 3, and it is afiixed to plate 4by fasteners 128. Pilot hub 130 is integrally formed with the flange126. The pilot hub 130 will accept the sector gear 14, that is, thecircular portion 160 of the plate 16 is piloted on thehub 130.

The screws 132 and 134 go all the way through the plate 4 and connectthe gear train to the motor. Hub 136 is also mounted upon theoutputshaft 102 and forms the mount for the spring 138. The inner end 140 ofthe spring 138 is affixed to the hub 136 by a screw or other fastenerextending into the bore 142. The outer end of the spring 138 is formedinto a loop 139 whichis mounted to a pin on the back end of the planetcarrier plate 112 (see Figure Plate 152 is a retainingplate for thespring '138 and 150 is a stop pin. The spring fits within the opening162 in the plate 152.

The sector gear plate 16 has an opening 160 which fits around a pilothub 130 and locates the switches with respect to the cam or flange. Thehub 130 thus forms a base for the spring to retain it in place. Theinner surface of the opening 162 in retainer plate 152 thus holds thespring in place upon the hub 130.

As shown in Figure 10, on the backside of the planet carrier plate 112there are two pins 170 and 172. The loop 139 on the outer end of thespring 138 is dropped over stud 170. The stud 172 contacts the stop pin150. Pin 170 is radially closer to the center of the planet carrier 112than is the pin 172. The purpose of the stop 172 is to give the springsomething against which it can recoil and thereby establish the zeropoint. In other words, if there were no stop, the spring would unwinduntil it reached an equilibrium position and it would there locateitself. In order to have accuracy, the spring must recoil from the samepoint each time and it therefore recoils into the stop pin 150. Thereason for placing the pins 170 and 172 at different radial distances isto enable the location of stop pin 172 without touching the springretaining pin 170.

As indicated previously, the switches are released When the lug 26 fallsinto the slot 180 on the planet carrier plate 112. The side 181 of theslot 180 is radially oriented. When the lug 26 drops into the slot 180the buttons 184 on the micro-switches are released. Normally, thebuttons 184 are all depressed and held in depressed position by the lug26 riding on the outer peripheral surface of the plate 112. The plate 22being pivotally mounted can release or actuate the buttons 184 accordingto the relative position of the lug 26 and the plate 112. The switchesare Wired so that they will be actuated upon the release of the button184.

Although certain modifications have been described hereinabove, it willbe readily understood by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications may be made in the invention without departing from thescope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a time delay relay, switch means having a switch contact actuator,an electric motor, planetary gearing drivingly connected to said motorand including a normally stationary planet carrier element and a ringgear, said planet carrier element providing means to engage saidactuator, an electromagnetic brake, said ring gear being of paramagneticmaterial and constituting one element of said brake, means forenergizing said motor, means for energizing said brake simultaneouslywith said motor, energization of said brake serving to instantaneouslylock the normally rotating ring gear against rotation and cause thecarrier element to planetate, said switch means including means fordeenergizing said motor when the actuator engaging means contacts saidactuator, enerby storage means operatively associated with said planetcarrier element adapted to receive energy when said planet carrierelement rotates and adapted to release its energy when said brake isdeactivated, whereby the timing cycle will commence immediately uponenergization of said brake and motor and will be repeated in exactlyequal timing intervals upon each energization cycle.

2. In a time delay relay, switch means having a switch contact actuator,an electric motor, planetary gearing drivingly connected to said motorand including a normally stationary planet carrier element and a ringgear, said planet carrier element providing means to engage saidactuator, means for holding stationary said ring gear whereby saidplanet carrier element is caused to rotate, means for energizing saidmotor simultaneously with said ring gear holding means, said switchmeans including means for deenergizing said motor when the actuatorengaging means contacts said actuator, energy storage means operativelyassociated with said planet carrier element adapted to receive energywhen said planet carrier element rotates and adapted to release itsenergy when said brake is deactivated, and means for fixedly adjustingthe relative normal position between said actuator and said planetcarrier element means in a continuous manner over a predetermined range.

3. In a time delay relay, switch means having a switch contact actuatormounted upon a movable plate member, an electric motor, planetarygearing drivingly connected to said motor and including a normallystationary planet carrier element and a ring gear, said planet carrierelement providing means to engage said actuator, means for holdingstationary said ring gear whereby said planet carrier element is causedto rotate, means for energizing said motor simultaneously with said ringgear holding means, said switch means including means for deenergizingsaid motor when the actuator engaging means contacts said actuator,energy storage means operatively associated with said planet carrierelement adapted to receive energy when said planet carrier elementrotates and adapted to release its energy when said brake isdeactivated, and means for fixedly adjusting the relative normalposition between said actuator and said planet carrier element means ina continuous manner over a predetermined range, said fixedly adjustingmeans including a rack affixed to said plate member, a pinion inengagement with said rack, and means for rotating said pinion toadjustably position the actuator with respect to said planet carrierelement.

4. In a time delay relay, switch means having a switch actuator, anelectric motor, planetary gearing drivingly connected to said motor andincluding a normally stationary planet carrier element and a ring gear,said planet carrier element providing means to engage said actuator,means for holding stationary said ring gear whereby said planet carrierelement is caused to rotate, means for energizing said motorsimultaneously with said ring gear holding means, said switch meansincluding means for deenergizing said motor when the actuator engagingmeans contacts said actuator, energy storage means operativelyassociated with said planet carrier element adapted to receive energywhen said planet carrier element rotates and adapted to release itsenergy when said brake is deactivated, said planet carrier element beingprovided with a depending stop means, a pair of abutments juxtaposed tosaid stop means for determining the rotational movement of said carrierelement, and means for fixedly adjusting the relative normal positionbetween said actuator and said planet carrier element means in acontinuous manner over a predetermined range including means for fixedlyadjusting the position of at least one of said abutments in a continuousmanner.

5. In a time delay relay, switch means having a switch contact actuator,an electric motor, planetary gearing drivingly connected to said motorand including a normally stationary planetfcarrier element and a ringgear, said planet carrier element providing means to engage saidactuator, an electromagnetic brake, said ring gear being of paramagneticmaterial and constituting one element of said brake, means forenergizing said motor, means for energizing said brake simultaneouslywith said motor, energization of said brake serving to instantaneouslylock the normally rotating ring gear against rotation and cause thecarrier element to planetate, said switch means including means fordeenergizing said motor when the actuator engaging means contacts saidactuator, energy storage, means 'operatively associated with said planetcarrier element'adapted to receive energy when said planetcarrierelement rotates and adapted to release its energy when said brake isdeactivated and means for fixedly adjusting the relative normal positionbetween said actuator and said planet carrier element means in acontinuous manner over a pr'edetermined range whereby the timing cyclewill commence immediately upon energization of said brake and motor-andwill be repeated in exactly equal timing intervals upon eachenergization cycle.

6. The time delay relay of claim 5 wherein said switch contact actuatoris mounted upon a movable plate member, and said fixedly adjusting meansincludes a rack affixed to said plate member, and a pinion in engagementwith said rack, vmeans'for rotating said pinion to adjustably positionthe actuator with respect to said planet carrier eler'n'ent.

7. The time delay relay of claim 5 wherein said planet carrier elementis provided with a depending stop means, a pair of abutments juxtaposedto said stop means for determining the rotational movement of saidcarrier element, means for fixedly adjusting the position of at leastone of said abutments in a continuous manner.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,157,863 Ow May 9, 1939 2,566,945 Laze-' Sept. 4, 1951 2,631,664 PooleMar. 17, 1953 ,792,468 Kozikowski May 14, 1957 2,820,859 Davies Jan. 21,1958 2,820,860 Kozikowski Jan. 21, 1958

